GCSEs Summer 2020 (thread 4) -the final countdown

[PostNotInHaste]

Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1(year 10)

Hope OrangeCinnamon doesn’t mind me starting another in her absence , feel twitchy without ! Apologies in advance if I have messed the links up.

The last thread ended with discussion of possible school closures, not really what we want to hear at this point - let’s hope things sound more positive as thread progresses.

Mine is absolutely inconsolable.
I know it sounds a bit OTT but it's only just "clicked" for her and she was borderline in the core subjects.
Night and day she has worked, the effort 100% unquestionable, report card all 1's for effort. Did terribly in mocks, which weren't done under proper conditions, and low predictions, her results won't be representative of ability at all.
There really could be a range of 1-3 levels out.
She's ok, and then will just start crying.

I found a very good article here about the use of predicted grades which I actually found reassuring in many ways.

disidealist.wordpress.com/2020/03/18/schools-out-i-predict-a-predicted-grade/

How confident are we that they are cancelled and not simply postponed?
My daughter has her French oral on Friday. She is still studying for it but understandably isn't too motivated now and has spent most of the evening on social media.

Thanks @HPFA, that article was really helpful.

I personally will be very cross if it turns out they said "cancelled" instead of postponed. I can see why they can't give out every detail of the proposed assessment but that certainly should have been something decided before the announcement.

But I don't see how they can do them in September - how would they get them marked? And while teacher predictions won't be perfect I'm not sure it's less unfair than having them marked by stressed out and overwhelmed teachers. Plus as the article I linked to above pointed out having the exams in September would hugely benefit those with parents and resources to keep them going through the long hiatus. What if the private schools decide not to close? That would give their students a huge advantage come September.

Thanks @HPFA

Thanks HPFA

Private schools are also closing so apart from children of key workers, those that aren't (including mine) will be in the same position as others.

If they are actually cancelled then I'd like to know what she's going to do until September particularly as the summer of fun (Mongolia expedition, Reading etc) will likely not happen.

Worrying times for everyone

My DS doesn’t know how to feel.
We’re confused by what was said.
He’s still getting mock results back but I know, Geography for example wasn’t taken as a full exam as they hadn’t/haven’t finished all of the curriculum.
I’m fuming they’ve been left in limbo with no proper answers. I understand the government can’t be certain on everything but just to let us know if they are planning for the exams to be taken at some point or not at all. Have told my son not to revise tonight, he wasn’t in the mind set for it anyway, but do we stop with the revision or not? Is Friday their last ever day of school or not? It’s all so up in the air. I know you guys have no answers either, I’m just having a rant.

My dd's class have decided to have their muck up day on Friday.
I've told her to carry on preparing for her French oral on Friday!

My DS is so upset. He’s worked so hard. He did really well in his mocks, and his predicted grades are high. But he will be always denied that moment opening the results. They all will. Trying to look at positives (if they don’t sit them) but really struggling to. I’ve just had a chat and said that all that really matters is that everyone gets through this. Then he said imagine if people in my school die. Brought us back to reality and that at the end of the day this situation can’t be helped, is out of our hands and our control. So so sad for them all. Sending out a hug to all our children who have worked so hard, and to all the parents who have encouraged and worked hard alongside them.

All of ds's friends are thrilled. 3 parents on FB, the kid is happy no exams.

I feel differently. I do appreciate that my situation only applies to me, and is not common.

Ds1 is predicted 6's and 7's.
He has struggled with triple science and has only been getting 4 or 5.

But his recent mocks, he got 7 in maths. 5 marks off an 8. He was told maths he could actually get a 9 if he really put the work in.

8 in English literature.

Those are actually better grades than predicted.

So, he's disadvantaged.

Paul told him: serves you right for not working for the last 2 years!!

But like Redsky my son I believe would have done very well in his actual exams, better than predicted.

So this for him is not advantageous.

But the frightening thing about Boris is 'they'll get what they deserve' means this is rash and we haven't actually thought this through!

Head teachers have received a letter from the doe. The exams are cancelled not deferred.

@HPFA
A big thank you from DD!
Taking an overall picture of KS2 results, CEM MidYis and Yellis, as well as other external assessments, alongside teachers assessments of work over a given period etc would be a much fairer way to ‘award grades’ if that’s way it is to done for this year!s cohort.

@ProggyMat

They can't use the level a pupil was at in year 6 to award GCSE results at age 16.

Children in year 11 are supposed to sit gcse exams. Most do! Obviously. Ours will be the first year that don't.

I think this disadvantages them. From the experience. Of doing the norm. Most who sit 3 a levels, have already had the unique experience of already having sat 10 gcse exams.

Very unusual situation!

@FiddlersGreen

The exams will not be happening in May, June, December or ever. There are no exams to revise for, so there is no point in continuing revision.

Where did I say that StormyClouds?

It the whole experience that they are missing - and my dd has a sport that will also be in ruins this summer. If they lock down London it will be awful. A double blow for her as others will continue to train. Its such a massive decision to cancel exams at this stage and just feels like a panic reaction rather than a plan

This is crazy.

My son is so upset. So many emotions. New territory. I have no words this eve x

@StormyClouds

“
The exams will not be happening in May, June, December or ever. There are no exams to revise for, so there is no point in continuing revision”

Sorry, don’t know how to bold. How do you know this? Have I missed something?

my dd has a sport that will also be in ruins this summer

I am heavily involved in grass roots athletics - it has slammed to a halt just as we were beginning to get ready for the season. My dd competes - but obviously they won't this year.

She was supposed to be taking her Inter Modern in June, her inter ballet in July (postponed from last year as she broke her ankle days before the exam). She is gutted about that. Much less about the GCSEs.

Well I have a DS who is devastated. He’s been revising for months and was hoping for 9s across the board.
He had dreams of being the first in our family to get degree and an oxbridge education - he’s gutted and wondering how on Earth they will assess marks as his predicted are worse than the mocks which he aced. 🤦‍♀️

@PushTheTrolley he still can! Just reassure him that all is not lost. If he has been excelling at school then school will take that into account when they send in projected grades. They won't be using grades from last year without taking anything recent into account.

Fiddler - they have been cancelled. It was said, and emphasised, unequivocally.

www.aqa.org.uk/coronavirus-updates